Landstar System Reports Second Quarter Revenue of $1.432B and Earnings per Share of $1.44

Rhea-AI Summary

Landstar System (NASDAQ:LSTR) reported 2026 second-quarter revenue of $1.432 billion, up 18% from $1.211 billion a year earlier, and basic and diluted EPS of $1.44, up 20% from $1.20. Gross profit rose 21% to $132 million and variable contribution increased 17% to $199 million, while operating income grew 18% to $66 million.

Truck revenue reached $1.334 billion, up 19%, driven by a ~17% increase in truck revenue per load and ~2% higher truck loads. The Board declared a $0.44 quarterly dividend, 10% above recent levels, payable September 9, 2026. In first-half 2026, Landstar repurchased 150,923 shares for $22.6 million and ended the quarter with about $348 million in cash and short-term investments, a 16% trailing twelve‑month ROE and 14% ROIC.

Positive

• Revenue +18% YoY to $1.432B in Q2 2026
• EPS +20% YoY to $1.44 in Q2 2026
• Gross profit +21% YoY to $132M in Q2 2026
• Variable contribution +17% YoY to $199M in Q2 2026
• Truck revenue +19% YoY to $1.334B in Q2 2026
• Truck revenue per load +~17% YoY in Q2 2026
• Quarterly dividend raised 10% to $0.44 per share
• Share repurchases 150,923 shares for $22.6M in 1H 2026
• Cash and short-term investments ~$348M at June 27, 2026
• Trailing ROE 16% and ROIC 14% over last twelve months

Negative

• Insurance and claims expense +29% YoY to $39.4M in Q2 2026
• Selling, general and administrative expense +22% YoY to $68.2M
• No share repurchases executed during Q2 2026
• Cash and equivalents down to $294.4M from $396.7M at year‑end 2025

News Explained

The completed second-quarter report discloses that higher insurance and claims expense, mainly from unfavorable development of prior years’ claims, adversely affected results, even as first-half DOT accident frequency fell.

Market Context

The tag-specific earnings record showed an average move of -2.33%, adding historical context to the ...

Analysis

The tag-specific earnings record showed an average move of -2.33%, adding historical context to the quarter’s growth figures. Low short positioning provided a limited volatility signal, while recent insider activity was net selling.

Key Figures

Revenue: $1.432 billion EPS: $1.44 Gross profit: $132.337 million +5 more

8 metrics

Revenue $1.432 billion 2Q 2026, up 18% year over year

EPS $1.44 2Q 2026, up 20% year over year

Gross profit $132.337 million 2Q 2026, up 21.1% year over year

Variable contribution $199.429 million 2Q 2026, up 17.0% year over year

Operating income $66.228 million 2Q 2026, up 17.7% year over year

Quarterly dividend $0.44 per share Payable September 9, 2026

Cash and short-term investments $348 million As of June 27, 2026

Insurance and claims expense $39.359 million 2Q 2026

Previous Earnings Reports

5 past events · Latest: Apr 28 (Positive)

Same Type Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Apr 28	First-quarter earnings	Positive	+1.2%	Revenue and EPS increased year over year alongside higher gross profit and operating income.
Jan 28	Fourth-quarter earnings	Negative	-2.3%	Lower revenue and EPS were accompanied by elevated insurance and claims costs.
Oct 28	Third-quarter earnings	Negative	-3.8%	Revenue and GAAP EPS declined amid impairment charges that reduced reported earnings.
Jul 29	Second-quarter earnings	Negative	-3.3%	Revenue and EPS declined year over year despite higher truck revenue per load.
Jan 29	Fourth-quarter earnings	Positive	-3.5%	Quarterly revenue growth was reported alongside higher truck revenue per load.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Tag-specific earnings history recorded an average move of -2.33%, with both positive and negative individual reactions.

Key Terms

power-only, non-gaap financial measures

2 terms

power-only technical

"Other truck transportation, which is largely related to power-only services"

A power-only arrangement in trucking is when a carrier supplies just the tractor unit and driver to move a trailer owned or provided by someone else, rather than supplying a full truck-and-trailer service. It matters to investors because it affects capital needs, utilization and pricing: carriers can earn revenue without buying trailers, shippers can use existing trailers more flexibly, and contract terms influence margins and asset-light strategies, similar to renting a car versus buying one.

non-gaap financial measures financial

"Non-GAAP Financial Measures: In this earnings release"

Non-GAAP financial measures are numbers companies use to show their financial performance that exclude certain expenses or income. They help investors see how the company might perform without one-time costs or other unusual items, giving a different perspective from official reports. However, since they can be adjusted, they don’t always tell the full story and should be looked at alongside standard financial figures.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Landstar System, Inc. (NASDAQ: LSTR) (“Landstar” or the “Company”) today reported its financial results for the 2026 second quarter. The Company reported total revenue of $1.432 billion in the 2026 second quarter, an increase of 18% as compared to revenue of $1.211 billion in the 2025 second quarter, and basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) of $1.44 in the 2026 second quarter, an increase of 20% as compared to EPS of $1.20 per share in the 2025 second quarter. The Company also reported a 21% increase in gross profit and a 17% increase in variable contribution (defined as revenue less the cost of purchased transportation and commissions to agents) in the 2026 second quarter, as compared in each case to the 2025 second quarter.

“The Landstar team of independent business owners and employees truly shined in a rapidly improving freight transportation backdrop. I was pleased that our network generated both truck volumes and truck revenue per load that outpaced normal seasonal patterns, with variable contribution increasing approximately 17% year-over-year,” said Landstar President and Chief Executive Officer Frank Lonegro. “I was delighted to see our net 68 BCO truck additions during the second quarter, the strongest quarterly improvement since the first quarter of 2022. Although the Company experienced a lower DOT accident frequency during the 2026 first half, increased insurance and claims expense, primarily attributable to unfavorable development of prior years’ claims, had an adverse impact on our second quarter results. The claim environment for freight transportation providers remains challenging, especially with the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Montgomery decision relating to potential broker liability.”

	2Q 2026		2Q 2025		Change ($)		Change (%)
Revenue	$	1,432,264	$	1,211,383	$	220,881		18.2	%
Gross profit	$	132,337	$	109,261	$	23,076		21.1	%
Variable contribution	$	199,429	$	170,450	$	28,979		17.0	%
Operating income	$	66,228	$	56,280	$	9,948		17.7	%
Basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”)	$	1.44	$	1.20	$	0.24		20.0	%

(1)   Dollars above in thousands, except per share amounts.

(2)   Please refer to the Consolidated Statements of Income and the Reconciliation of Gross Profit to Variable Contribution included below.

Landstar also announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.44 per share payable on September 9, 2026, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 18, 2026. This quarterly dividend includes a 10% increase over the amount of the Company’s regular quarterly dividend declared following each of the prior five quarters. It is currently the intention of the Board to continue to pay dividends on a quarterly basis going forward. Landstar continues to return capital to stockholders through the Company’s stock purchase program and dividends. While Landstar did not purchase shares in the second quarter, during the 2026 first half, Landstar purchased 150,923 shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $22.6 million. The Company is currently authorized to purchase up to an additional 1,115,195 shares of the Company’s common stock under its longstanding share purchase program.

During the 2026 second quarter, truck revenue was $1,334 million, or 19% higher, as compared to the 2025 second quarter truck revenue of $1,118 million. Truck revenue per load increased approximately 17% in the 2026 second quarter compared to the 2025 second quarter, and the number of loads hauled via truck increased approximately 2% compared to the 2025 second quarter.

Truck transportation revenue hauled by independent business capacity owners (“BCOs”) and truck brokerage carriers in the 2026 second quarter was 93% of revenue, compared to 92% of revenue in the 2025 second quarter. Truckload transportation revenue hauled via van equipment in the 2026 second quarter was $718 million, compared to $591 million in the 2025 second quarter. Truckload transportation revenue hauled via unsided/platform equipment in the 2026 second quarter was $492 million, compared to $401 million in the 2025 second quarter. Revenue from other truck transportation, which is largely related to power-only services, in the 2026 second quarter was $99 million, compared to $101 million in the 2025 second quarter. Revenue hauled by rail, air and ocean cargo carriers was $78 million, or 5% of revenue, in the 2026 second quarter, compared to $73 million, or 6% of revenue, in the 2025 second quarter.

Gross profit in the 2026 second quarter was $132 million, as compared to $109 million in the 2025 second quarter. Variable contribution in the 2026 second quarter was $199 million, compared to $170 million in the 2025 second quarter. Reconciliations of gross profit to variable contribution and gross profit margin to variable contribution margin for the 2026 and 2025 second quarters and year-to-date periods are provided in the Company’s accompanying financial disclosures.

The Company’s balance sheet continues to be very strong, with cash and short-term investments of approximately $348 million as of June 27, 2026. Trailing twelve-month return on average shareholders’ equity was 16%. Return on invested capital, representing net income divided by the sum of average equity plus average debt, was 14%.  

Landstar will provide a live webcast of its quarterly earnings conference call this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. ET. To access the webcast, visit www.investor.landstar.com; click on “Webcasts,” then click on “Landstar’s Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Release Conference Call.” A slide presentation to accompany the webcast presentation is also available on Landstar’s investor relations website at https://investor.landstar.com/.

About Landstar:
Landstar System, Inc., is a technology-enabled, asset-light provider of freight transportation and logistics solutions focused on safety, security and service to a broad range of customers utilizing a network of agents, third-party capacity providers and employees. Landstar transportation services companies are certified to ISO 9001:2015 quality management system standards and RC14001:2015 environmental, health, safety and security management system standards. Landstar System, Inc. is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. Its common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market® under the symbol LSTR.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures:
In this earnings release and accompanying financial disclosures, the Company provides the following information that may be deemed non-GAAP financial measures: variable contribution and variable contribution margin. The Company believes variable contribution and variable contribution margin are useful measures of the variable costs that we incur at a shipment-by-shipment level attributable to our transportation network of third-party capacity providers and independent agents in order to provide services to our customers. The Company also believes that it is appropriate to present each of the financial measures that may be deemed a non-GAAP financial measure, as referred to above, for the following reasons: (1) disclosure of these matters will allow investors to better understand the underlying trends in the Company’s financial condition and results of operations; (2) this information will facilitate comparisons by investors of the Company’s results as compared to the results of peer companies; and (3) management considers this financial information in its decision making.

Forward Looking Statements Disclaimer:
The following is a “safe harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements contained in this press release that are not based on historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” This press release contains forward-looking statements, such as statements which relate to Landstar’s business objectives, plans, strategies and expectations. Terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intention,” “expects,” “plans,” “predicts,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “will,” the negative thereof and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are by nature subject to uncertainties and risks, including but not limited to: decreased demand for transportation services; U.S. trade relationships and potential or imposed tariffs; an increase in the frequency or severity of accidents or other claims; unfavorable development of existing accident claims; dependence on third party insurance companies; dependence on independent commission sales agents; dependence on third party capacity providers; the impact of the Russian conflict with Ukraine on the operations of certain independent commission sales agents, including the Company’s second largest such agent by revenue in the 2025 fiscal year; substantial industry competition; disruptions or failures in the Company’s computer systems; cyber and other information security incidents; dependence on key vendors; potential changes in taxes; status of independent contractors; regulatory and legislative changes; regulations focused on diesel emissions and other air quality matters; regulations requiring the purchase and use of zero-emission vehicles; intellectual property; acquisitions and investments; and other operational, financial or legal risks or uncertainties detailed in Landstar’s Form 10-K for the 2025 fiscal year, described in Part I, Item 1A Risk Factors, and in other SEC filings from time to time. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results or events to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. Investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
				Twenty-Six Weeks Ended						Thirteen Weeks Ended
				June 27,			June 28,			June 27,			June 28,
				2026			2025			2026			2025
Revenue				$	2,603,555		$	2,363,885		$	1,432,264		$	1,211,383
Investment income					5,679			7,327			2,705			3,729
Costs and expenses:
	Purchased transportation				2,030,397			1,839,289			1,123,400			941,411
	Commissions to agents				201,578			192,836			109,435			99,522
	Other operating costs, net of gains on asset sales/dispositions				32,745			31,424			17,945			19,595
	Insurance and claims				74,923			70,301			39,359			30,449
	Selling, general and administrative				129,158			117,288			68,193			55,706
	Depreciation and amortization				20,969			24,375			10,409			12,149
		Total costs and expenses			2,489,770			2,275,513			1,368,741			1,158,832
Operating income					119,464			95,699			66,228			56,280
Interest and debt expense					1,330			539			812			698
Income before income taxes					118,134			95,160			65,416			55,582
Income taxes					29,743			23,461			16,465			13,689
Net income				$	88,391		$	71,699		$	48,951		$	41,893
Basic and diluted earnings per share				$	2.60		$	2.05		$	1.44		$	1.20
Average basic and diluted shares outstanding					33,979,000			35,037,000			33,935,000			34,870,000
Dividends per common share				$	0.80		$	0.76		$	0.40		$	0.40

Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
				June 27,				December 27,
					2026				2025
ASSETS
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents			$	294,350			$	396,694
	Short-term investments				53,352				55,531
	Trade accounts receivable, less allowance of $9,135 and $12,490				866,879				670,137
	Other receivables, including advances to independent contractors, less allowance of $14,727 and $18,759				47,306				52,784
	Assets held for sale				-				12,231
	Other current assets				59,159				28,949
		Total current assets			1,321,046				1,216,326
Operating property, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $488,271 and $473,642					252,963				261,322
Goodwill					34,005				34,005
Other assets					134,521				124,282
Total assets				$	1,742,535			$	1,635,935
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
	Cash overdraft			$	71,849			$	56,654
	Accounts payable				468,780				369,567
	Current maturities of long-term debt				24,686				28,342
	Insurance claims				59,020				87,343
	Dividends payable				-				68,117
	Liabilities held for sale				-				6,961
	Other current liabilities				99,588				78,856
		Total current liabilities			723,923				695,840
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities					42,088				48,480
Insurance claims					98,686				62,706
Deferred income taxes and other non-current liabilities					41,108				33,244
Shareholders' equity:
	Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 160,000,000 shares, issued 68,631,174 and 68,590,708				686				686
	Additional paid-in capital				266,673				261,256
	Retained earnings				2,913,890				2,852,680
	Cost of 34,694,249 and 34,531,982 shares of common stock in treasury				(2,336,862	)			(2,313,245	)
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss				(7,657	)			(5,712	)
		Total shareholders' equity			836,730				795,665
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity				$	1,742,535			$	1,635,935

Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary
Supplemental Information
(Unaudited)
					Twenty-Six Weeks Ended									Thirteen Weeks Ended
					June 27,				June 28,					June 27,				June 28,
						2026				2025					2026				2025
Revenue generated through (in thousands):
	Truck transportation
		Truckload:
			Van equipment		$	1,320,919			$	1,186,071				$	717,513			$	591,276
			Unsided/platform equipment			860,737				741,270					492,168				400,862
		Less-than-truckload				48,912				47,749					25,124				25,313
		Other truck transportation (1)				185,591				192,766					99,073				100,687
			Total truck transportation			2,416,159				2,167,856					1,333,878				1,118,138
	Rail intermodal					47,075				39,515					27,761				22,028
	Ocean and air cargo carriers					97,713				116,426					49,744				50,789
	Other (2)					42,608				40,088					20,881				20,428
					$	2,603,555			$	2,363,885				$	1,432,264			$	1,211,383
	Revenue on loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors (3)
		included in total truck transportation			$	1,038,421			$	888,489				$	563,073			$	461,432
Number of loads:
	Truck transportation
		Truckload:
			Van equipment			575,472				572,154					297,761				284,091
			Unsided/platform equipment			246,695				246,241					132,141				128,996
		Less-than-truckload				65,895				76,830					30,970				41,250
		Other truck transportation (1)				95,768				90,185					49,378				46,173
			Total truck transportation			983,830				985,410					510,250				500,510
	Rail intermodal					15,110				13,970					8,520				7,820
	Ocean and air cargo carriers					13,870				16,560					7,160				7,440
						1,012,810				1,015,940					525,930				515,770
	Loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors (3)
		included in total truck transportation				432,210				398,000					224,600				203,930
Revenue per load:
	Truck transportation
		Truckload:
			Van equipment		$	2,295			$	2,073				$	2,410			$	2,081
			Unsided/platform equipment			3,489				3,010					3,725				3,108
		Less-than-truckload				742				621					811				614
		Other truck transportation (1)				1,938				2,137					2,006				2,181
			Total truck transportation			2,456				2,200					2,614				2,234
	Rail intermodal					3,115				2,829					3,258				2,817
	Ocean and air cargo carriers					7,045				7,031					6,947				6,826
	Revenue per load on loads hauled via BCO Independent Contractors (3)				$	2,403			$	2,232				$	2,507			$	2,263
Revenue by capacity type (as a % of total revenue):
	Truck capacity providers:
		BCO Independent Contractors (3)				40	%			38	%				39	%			38	%
		Truck Brokerage Carriers				53	%			54	%				54	%			54	%
	Rail intermodal					2	%			2	%				2	%			2	%
	Ocean and air cargo carriers					4	%			5	%				3	%			4	%
	Other					2	%			2	%				1	%			2	%
														June 27,				June 28,
															2026				2025
Truck Capacity Providers:
	BCO Independent Contractors (3)														7,719				7,844
	Truck Brokerage Carriers:
	Approved and active (4)														37,656				41,842
	Other approved														26,951				27,672
															64,607				69,514
	Total available truck capacity providers														72,326				77,358
	Trucks provided by BCO Independent Contractors (3)														8,544				8,611
(1) Includes power-only, expedited, straight truck, cargo van, and miscellaneous other truck transportation revenue generated by the transportation logistics segment.
	Power-only refers to shipments where the Company furnishes a power unit and an operator but not trailing equipment, which is typically provided by the shipper or consignee.
(2) Includes primarily reinsurance premium revenue generated by the insurance segment and intra-Mexico transportation services revenue generated by Landstar Metro.
(3) BCO Independent Contractors are independent contractors who provide truck capacity to the Company under exclusive lease arrangements.
(4) Active refers to Truck Brokerage Carriers who moved at least one load in the 180 days immediately preceding the fiscal quarter end.

Landstar System, Inc. and Subsidiary
Reconciliation of Gross Profit to Variable Contribution
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
						Twenty-Six Weeks Ended								Thirteen Weeks Ended
						June 27,				June 28,				June 27,				June 28,
							2026				2025				2026				2025
Revenue						$	2,603,555			$	2,363,885			$	1,432,264			$	1,211,383
Costs of revenue:
		Purchased transportation					2,030,397				1,839,289				1,123,400				941,411
		Commissions to agents					201,578				192,836				109,435				99,522
	Variable costs of revenue						2,231,975				2,032,125				1,232,835				1,040,933
		Trailing equipment depreciation					12,619				13,844				6,351				6,867
		Information technology costs (1)					5,683				7,609				3,080				3,934
		Insurance-related costs (2)					75,654				71,317				39,716				30,793
		Other operating costs					32,745				31,424				17,945				19,595
	Other costs of revenue						126,701				124,194				67,092				61,189
	Total costs of revenue						2,358,676				2,156,319				1,299,927				1,102,122
Gross profit						$	244,879			$	207,566			$	132,337			$	109,261
Gross profit margin							9.4	%			8.8	%			9.2	%			9.0	%
	Plus: other costs of revenue						126,701				124,194				67,092				61,189
Variable contribution						$	371,580			$	331,760			$	199,429			$	170,450
Variable contribution margin							14.3	%			14.0	%			13.9	%			14.1	%
(1) Includes costs of revenue incurred related to internally developed software including ASC 350-40 amortization, implementation costs, hosting costs and other support costs utilized to support the Company's independent commission sales agents, third party capacity providers, and customers, included as a portion of depreciation and amortization and of selling, general and administrative in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income.
(2) Primarily includes (i) insurance premiums paid for commercial auto liability, general liability, cargo and other lines of coverage related to the transportation of freight; (ii) the related costs of claims incurred under those programs; and (iii) brokerage commissions and other fees incurred relating the the administration in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income.

Contact:
Jim Todd
Chief Financial Officer
904-398-9400

FAQ

How did Landstar (LSTR) perform in the second quarter of 2026?

Landstar reported higher revenue and earnings in Q2 2026, with revenue of $1.432 billion and EPS of $1.44. According to Landstar, revenue rose 18% and EPS increased 20% year over year, supported by strong truck revenue growth and higher revenue per load.

What dividend did Landstar (LSTR) declare for the second quarter of 2026?

Landstar’s Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.44 per share, payable September 9, 2026. According to Landstar, this represents a 10% increase over its regular dividend from the prior five quarters, with shareholders of record on August 18, 2026, eligible to receive the payment.

How did Landstar’s truck revenue and volumes change in Q2 2026 (LSTR)?

Landstar’s truck revenue reached $1.334 billion in Q2 2026, up 19% year over year. According to Landstar, truck revenue per load increased about 17%, while the number of truck loads rose approximately 2%, indicating growth driven mainly by pricing rather than volume expansion.

What impact did insurance and claims expenses have on Landstar’s Q2 2026 results?

Insurance and claims expenses increased to $39.4 million in Q2 2026, up from $30.4 million a year earlier. According to Landstar, this rise, mainly from unfavorable development on prior years’ claims, adversely affected quarterly results despite a lower accident frequency in the first half of 2026.

How much stock did Landstar (LSTR) repurchase in the first half of 2026?

Landstar repurchased 150,923 shares of its common stock for an aggregate cost of $22.6 million during the first half of 2026. According to Landstar, no shares were bought in Q2, and the company remains authorized to repurchase up to 1,115,195 additional shares.

What is Landstar’s cash position and return metrics as of Q2 2026?

Landstar reported approximately $348 million in cash and short-term investments as of June 27, 2026. According to Landstar, trailing twelve‑month return on average shareholders’ equity was 16%, and return on invested capital, defined as net income over average equity plus debt, was 14%.

How did Landstar’s gross profit and variable contribution change in Q2 2026?

Landstar’s gross profit rose to $132 million and variable contribution to $199 million in Q2 2026. According to Landstar, these measures increased 21% and 17% year over year, respectively, reflecting improved truck revenue performance and the company’s asset-light freight transportation model.